AEPD Data Protection Communication Award 2026: €3,000 for Journalists

Key data

Journalists specializing in privacy, technology, or digital rights have until October 15, 2026 to submit their application for the Data Protection Communication Award launched by the Spanish Data Protection Authority (AEPD). The award is €3,000 for a single winner, or €1,500 per application if the jury decides to award it ex aequo. The call was published in the BOE on July 20, 2026 and is part of the AEPD Strategic Plan 2025-2030.

What does this regulation establish?

The resolution approves the regulatory bases and formalizes the call for the Data Protection Communication Award for 2026. Below are the essential elements of the call:

The jury has the power to declare the award ex aequo, in which case the €3,000 endowment is divided equally: €1,500 per awarded application. No maximum number of ex aequo applications is specified in the available data.

Economic and operational impact

For applicants, the direct economic impact is clear: up to €3,000 in economic recognition for already published work. This is not about financing a future project, but rather rewarding content already produced within the established time window.

From an operational perspective, participating does not involve significant costs: the process is limited to preparing and submitting the application within the deadline. The real cost is the administrative management time to gather documentation of the submitted work.

For media outlets participating on an institutional basis, the award also has reputational value: being recognized by the AEPD as a reference in privacy communication can strengthen their editorial positioning in the field of data protection and digital rights.

Who does it affect?

• Individual journalists who have published reports, articles, investigations, or audiovisual pieces on data protection or privacy between October 16, 2025 and October 15, 2026.
• Media outlets (print, digital, radio, television) that have published outstanding content on privacy during that same period.
• Journalists specializing in technology, cybersecurity, or digital rights, especially if they have covered the impact of disruptive technologies (artificial intelligence, big data, biometrics, etc.) on privacy.

Excluded from participation:

• Members of the award jury.
• Staff of data protection authorities (such as the AEPD and its regional equivalents).

Practical example

A freelance journalist specializing in privacy published in March 2026 an in-depth report on the use of facial recognition systems in public spaces and their implications under the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). The work was published in a national digital media outlet.

This work fits perfectly within the call: it was published within the eligible window (October 16, 2025 – October 15, 2026), addresses a disruptive technology (facial recognition) and its relationship with privacy—a special evaluation criterion according to the bases—and can be submitted both individually (the journalist) and institutionally (the media outlet that published it).

If awarded alone, she would receive €3,000. If the jury decides to award it ex aequo with another application, she would receive €1,500. The application must be submitted before October 15, 2026.

What should candidates do now?

1. Identify eligible work: Review whether you have published content on data protection or privacy between October 16, 2025 and October 15, 2026. Prioritize those addressing disruptive technologies (AI, biometrics, big data), as these are the special evaluation criterion.
2. Verify you are not excluded: Confirm that you are not a jury member or staff of any data protection authority (AEPD or equivalent organizations).
3. Decide on participation modality: Determine whether you submit the application individually (as a journalist) or institutionally (as a media outlet). Both modalities are valid.
4. Prepare documentation: Gather the work or works to be submitted and the necessary supporting documentation according to the regulatory bases published in the BOE.
5. Submit the application before October 15, 2026: The deadline opens from July 21, 2026. Do not wait until the last days: submit with sufficient margin to resolve any administrative issues.
6. Consult the complete bases: Access the full text of the resolution in the BOE (BOE-A-2026-15843) to know all formal submission requirements.

Official source

View complete regulation at official source

Notice: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. For specific decisions, consult a qualified professional. Source: https://www.boe.es/diario_boe/txt.php?id=BOE-A-2026-15843